Echeveria plant named ‘AMIECH2101’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  hybrid plant named ‘AMIECH2101’ which is characterized by a compact rosette of loosely held succulent foliage, greyed-green juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette which is lightly suffused with greyed-purple, foliage which becomes progressively darker greyed-green and progressively suffused with greyed-purple as it matures, light greyed-green foliar margins which become progressively suffused with greyed-red as the foliage matures, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is ((Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach) x Echeveria agavoides.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH2101’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH2101’ is an interspecific hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed (Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & R.C. Moran plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2017 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In summer of 2018, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIECH2101’ was selected for commercialization in autumn of 2018.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2019 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through three subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIECH2101’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIECH2101’ as a new and distinct Echeveria hybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH2101’ exhibits a compact rosette of somewhat loosely         held foliage; and     -   2. ‘AMIECH2101’ exhibits thick, durable foliage; and     -   3. ‘AMIECH2101’ exhibits greyed-green juvenile foliage at the         center of the rosette which is lightly suffused with         greyed-purple; and     -   4. ‘AMIECH2101’ exhibits foliage which becomes progressively         darker greyed-green and progressively suffused with         greyed-purple as it matures, towards the outer whorls of the         rosette; and     -   5. ‘AMIECH2101’ exhibits light greyed-green foliar margins which         become progressively suffused with greyed-red as the foliage         matures, towards the outer whorls of the rosette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIECH2101’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 30 weeks old, shown planted in an 11.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIECH2101’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIECH2101’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIECH2101’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in February of 2022 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 30-week-old ‘AMIECH2101’ plants grown in 11.5 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH2101’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH2101’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—7.5 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 13.2 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —             Approximately 35 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 7             cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosette; no             main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 100 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Dimensions.—5.8 cm long, 2.1 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave and slightly curled upward,             distally.         -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is             held erect; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed             towards the outer whorls of mature foliage which lay nearly             horizontal.         -   Apex.—Broad apiculate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire, with no undulation.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Smooth, glabrous, and moderately glossy.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Smooth, glabrous, and moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to a             mixture of green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A;             fading to yellow-green towards the base, RHS 147D; margins             are greyed-green, nearest to RHS 194B, and become suffused             with greyed-purple distally, nearest to RNS 183B. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a RHS             148B, and progressively suffused with greyed-purple towards             the apex, nearest to RHS N186C; fading to greyed-green             towards the base, nearest to a combination of RHS 196B and             196C; base is lightly suffused with white, N155C; apical             margins are greyed-purple, nearest to a combination of RHS             183A and 183B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to             a mixture of greyed-green to brown, RHS N189A and N200A, and             suffused with greyed-purple nearest to RHS N186C; fading to             greyed-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 194B; margined             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 178A; tipped greyed-purple,             nearest to RHS 184A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Brown, nearest to a mixture of RHS 200B and 200C, and             suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C; fading to             greyed-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 195A; margined             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 178A; tipped greyed-purple,             nearest to 184A. Venation, adaxial surface — No visible             venation. Venation, abaxial surface — No visible venation.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed (Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & R.C. Moran plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2101’ The seed parent. Foliage shape. Shorter and broader than Longer and narrower the seed parent. than ‘AMIECH2101’. General color- Dark greyed-green and Light greyed-green. ation of the suffused with dark greyed- mature foliage. purple; margins are a bright greyed-red.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2101’ The pollen parent. General color- Dark greyed-green Light yellow-green and ation of the and suffused with lightly covered with a very mature foliage. dark greyed-purple; thin layer of very light margins are a bright greyed-green epicuticular greyed-red. wax.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’ differ from the closest known commercial comparator, Echeveria hybrid ‘AMIECH2102’ (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 17/803,332 filed concurrently), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2101’ ‘AMIECH2102’ Plant size. Smaller than Larger than ‘AMIECH2102’. ‘AMIECH2101’. Foliage More abundant than Less abundant than abundance. ‘AMIECH2102’. ‘AMIECH2101’. Foliage size. Smaller than Larger than ‘AMIECH2102’. ‘AMIECH2101’. General color- A darker shade of greyed- A lighter shade of greyed- ation of the green and more heavily green with less greyed- mature foliage. suffused with greyed- purple suffusion, relative purple. to ‘AMIECH2101’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of ((Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach) x Echeveria agavoides plant named ‘AMIECH2101’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 